Dunking Duck and a favourite evening hymn

Now several years into blog creation here at takenote.ca I love to receive feedback from followers and subscribers. One curious reader enjoyed my Dunking Duck blog so much that she has requested a longer video, something akin to the popular and widely available Christmas fireplace, something she could watch when she is frustrated with her husband or her dog, or when she is simply agitated. She liked the first video very much, but she wanted (and it seems needed) more.

Always responsive to reader suggestions and requests I am pleased to debut a longer (7:52) DD session for your comfort, leisure, and consolation. I also want to share the text and a performance of one of my all-time favourite hymns, the evening hymn, The Day Thou Gavest. It’s as “Anglican” as the Archbishop of Canterbury.

It’s an evensong or evening prayer congregational staple. It was a key component in a small service I facilitated recently at a little church in Naramata BC. Whether at the funeral of a monarch, or in a country church, it’s everywhere. Here is the traditional text:

1 The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended;
The darkness fall at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended;
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

2 We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.

3 As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day;
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.

4 So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

[Described at Hymnary.org] “John Ellerton (b. London, England, 1826; d. Torquay, Devonshire, England, 1893) wrote this evening hymn in 1870 for A Liturgy for Missionary Meetings. The text’s dominant theme is the growing worldwide fellowship of the Christian church and its unbroken, unceasing offering of praise to God.”

In other words, as one community rises and commences its song, another slumbers following its own daily round.

Praise is a constant discipline and typical stance for Christians, unremittingly, and constantly. As Christians offer praise so the duck does her own thing, unremittingly, and constantly, without exhaustion, fueled by water alone (baptism?) supplied by an attentive and supporting human caregiver  (discipleship?).

Praise pronounced by an attentive and supporting human continues, anywhere and everywhere, regardless of circumstance, with little indication of specific outcome, blessing, or divine schedule. The faithful return praise to God who offers Grace preveniently. Apart from Divine presence the Christian ideally asks for nothing in return.

Dunking duck likewise asks for nothing in return, just the opportunity to do what she enjoys, blessed with the talent with which she is imbued, responsive to un unarticulated responsibility via a particular community of water, technology, and existence.

Were that all of life were so simple. Our daily round however is often simpler than what we make it. Love the “little things” (St. Francis Xavier; St. Francis of Assisi; Pope Francis), things like my dunking duck and all shall be well (Julian of Norwich).

And yes, with the late Queen, love the music of monarchs and country churches.